BRADFORD Bulls was today ordered to pay more than £50,000 in damages and costs following the club's courtroom defeat against former head coach Francis Cummins.

In May, Mr Cummins won his legal fight with the Bulls after taking the club to court for wrongful dismissal.

The 38-year-old, who was the lowest-paid coach in the competition on an annual salary of £50,000, was sacked in June last year.

He had expected to be paid the remainder of the three-year contract he signed in September 2012.

But no settlement could be reached with Bulls owner Marc Green after he was dismissed and Judge Andrew Saffman ruled in Mr Cummins’ favour at the Leeds County Court hearing two months ago.

Today, Judge Saffman assessed the damages owed and ruled that the Bulls must pay Mr Cummins £28,646 – tax free and before interest – in damages by next Monday.

The club was also ordered to pay Mr Cummins’ legal team a further £20,000 in costs – also by next Monday.

The club is understood to have requested the case be put on hold pending an application to the Court of Appeal to appeal the original verdict.

But its request for the delay was rejected by Judge Saffman leaving the club being ordered to pay a further sum of approximately £3,400 to Mr Cummins’ legal representatives.

Mr Cummins has recently taken up a new job on the coaching staff at rugby union outfit Yorkshire Carnegie.